Make a Fresh Start in the New Year

[ladylovesJesus]

Make a Fresh Start in the New Year
Dolley Carlson


"Thou crownest the year with thy goodness." - Psalm 65:11

The New Year's issue of a magazine captured my heart. The cover was a picture of newly fallen snow with one little pine sprig popping up in the middle. It looked like hope! Renewal. And another chance to do life right ... God bless second chances.

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way." - Isaiah 43:18-19.

For me, the snow symbolized a "white as snow" forgiven heart, and the little pine sprig an evergreen reminder of being "ever" renewed by God's love. Sitting on the threshold of a new year is the perfect opportunity to drop grudges, forgive, ask to be forgiven, and begin anew.

Gifts of Forgiveness

• Send a New Year greeting card to break the ice and warm the hearts of both the forgiver and the "forgivee."
• Forgiveness is the most expensive gift of all, but merciful forgiveness is priceless. Do you realize how much energy it takes to hold on to unforgiveness? A lot. Maybe you're righteously indignant. Make a tight first with your right hand. Takes some doing ... righteous indignation. Holding on robs us of blessings and being a blessing.
• Release, bless and be blessed in giving your "white as snow" gift of forgiveness.

Gifts of Encouragement

• Send a New Year's note and affirm special talents or skills. You could also write, "I know the Lord has wonderful plans for you; this is your year." Encourage them even more by including a verse such as "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

• Another gift of encouragement is to begin a support or prayer group. Meet once a week or every other week and be specific about your goals and objectives, not only for the group but for your new year as well. Commit your loving trust to each other and your meetings to prayer, counsel and God's word.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another." - Hebrews 10: 24-25.

 

[Maureen]

If someone said not nice things to you via email from a far away
place, they were relations, they had no reason for doing it, they
just stuck there nose into business that didn't concern them,
but as somem people can't hold their tongues they didn't.

Now these aren't Christian relations, I never replied to the email,
but my husband did, he's not saved either,
and after telling them what he thought,
he told them never to send another email. he put his name only
to the email, therefore now, how does that make me stand,
am I also guilty of unforgiveness in this matter, do I need to
send on of those New Year cards, or has this nothing to do with
me seeing as my husband replied?

curious to know what you think, as I am unsure.

 

[Antwan]

God bless second chances.
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way." - Isaiah 43:18-19.

Praise the Lord for second chances! Thank You Jesus! Amen!

 

[Maureen]

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way." - Isaiah 43:18-19.

This verse is following me around, it keeps coming up before me
just lately.

thank you for sending it AGAIN I'm just going to forget all about it.

 

[LeftCoast]

Indeed... forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
What a very powerful message. What has happened has happened, it cannot be changed.

 

[Haynaru]

That's right. But it's hard sometimes. a while ago I was really attached to my past, and I couldn't let it go, I didn't wanted to. I knew that I was supposed to move on from all those things that happened to me, forgive myself, and trust in God, move on, look forward.
Sometimes is not as easy a it seems.

God is so amazing. I see now the process and the work that God's been doing in my life. I'm now moving on, and just so excited about what is about to come, and it's just simply wonderful that He gaves us second chances. He is there always waiting for us, He wants to be with us

 

[jarkyle]

Amen, just like the parable of the prodigal son!, Our father is always ready and willing to take us back!

 

[Maureen]

sure is, with His arms wide open running toward us,
that is the only time the Father runs in that Biblical story as
Jesus always walked.
Haynaru I too can relate, it is sometime difficult to get out of the past, no
matter how much you want or try to.
It's only by asking Jesus to take it, make it His own, that the burden
gets lifted.
I mind hearing about we have to forgive ourselves, but I don't agree
Jesus is the forgiver, it was Him we wronged, when He forgives us
the slate is wiped clean the chains are cut, we are free.

Isn't it just marvelous to belong to such a wonderful sweet all together
beautiful Lord, who was mindful of beings such as us?
His love is so wide, so deep, so high, we can't escape it nor would we
want to.
Sheltered underneath the everlasting arms, that's were I want to be found.

 

[Haynaru]

Amen sister.

Well, for me this whole thing about forgiveness, and let things from the past left behind has been a process, and I feel like finally I can be free from all those things, and it's awesome cause I think this year will be great in my way with the Lord, and... life in all ways.

God is faithful, sometimes all we need is patience, and just trust in God.

 

[Maureen]

I pray it will be a great year 2008 in Jesus for us all.

May His name be the one glorified and lifted up above all other names.

All we need, all we want is Jesus. Amen sister.

 

[OpenMyHeart]

I pray it will be a great year 2008 in Jesus for us all.

May His name be the one glorified and lifted up above all other names.

All we need, all we want is Jesus. Amen sister.

Amen sister! Amen!!

I will be praying that everyone here has a great new year! A new year.. a fresh start

 

[Maureen]

oh a New Year, a New Start, Hallelujah.
Mines starting with chaos, but Jesus is in the boat
so I'm smiling at the storm.